The opening day of the European Darts Trophy in Göttingen, Germany, served up a mix of spectacular highlights and unexpected struggles. From record-breaking averages to dramatic comebacks, it was a day that truly showcased the unpredictable nature of professional darts.
Morning Session: Records and Routines
The action kicked off with **Darius Labanauskas** setting a solid pace, defeating former UK Open champion Andrew Gilding 6-3 with a steady 98.16 average. Labanauskas has consistently been one of the standout new tour card holders this year, and this win further cemented his strong form.
However, the real fireworks began in the very next match. **Kevin Doets delivered a performance that will be talked about for years to come.** The Dutch thrower absolutely demolished Finland’s Jonas Masalin with a **monstrous 117.12 average**. This wasn’t just a personal best for Doets; it also set a new record for the Göttingen venue and stands as the **fourth-highest European Tour average ever recorded**. It was a masterclass in scoring and finishing, leaving spectators in awe.
The morning continued with more dominant displays:
- **Ricky Evans** made quick work of young German Florian Preis, securing a swift 6-0 victory.
- **Niels Zonneveld** capitalized on a shaky performance from Ireland’s Keane Barry, whose struggles with doubling paved the way for Zonneveld’s comfortable 6-1 win.
Not every match was as smooth. **Cameron Menzies** continued his challenging year, losing 6-4 to former tour card holder Paul Krohne. Despite hitting four maximums, Menzies’ numerous missed doubles proved costly. Similarly, **Richard Veenstra** secured a 6-3 win against Florian Hempel, but his 89.05 average was less than ideal. In a battle of experience versus new talent, “The Polish Eagle” **Krzysztof Ratajski** maintained his excellent early-season form, taking a 6-4 victory over new tour card holder and former WDF world champion Shane McGuirk with an effective 97.86 average.
The afternoon session concluded with a rather subdued affair as **Ryan Joyce** fell to German local Lukas Wenig in a match where both players averaged around the 81 mark, highlighting some of the day’s less inspiring performances.
Evening Session: Combacks and Consistency
The evening session immediately delivered one of the day’s most dramatic moments. **Dave Chisnall pulled off a miraculous comeback victory**, recovering from an astonishing 5-0 deficit to win 6-5 against former ‘wonderkid’ Jeffrey de Zwaan. This stunning turnaround captivated the crowd and proved that no lead is safe in darts.
The drama was followed by a more subdued win for **Dirk van Duijvenbode**, who, despite appearing to struggle, managed a 6-2 victory over Belgian Mario Vandenbogaerde. “Aubergenius” had an uncharacteristic night, averaging just 85.83 and failing to register a single maximum visit.
Other notable results from the evening included:
- **Luke Woodhouse** secured the third 6-0 whitewash of the day, comfortably beating an underwhelming Dragutin Horvat thanks to steady doubling and Horvat’s lacklustre scoring.
- **Daryl Gurney** registered a solid 87.77 average in his 6-4 victory over Polish thrower Bialecki.
- **Joe Cullen** delivered the best performance of the evening session, comfortably beating Polish newcomer Wojciech Brulinski, who, despite struggling, managed to hit a maximum.
- In a tense all-German encounter between two rivals who gained their tour cards together, **Niko Springer** edged out Kai Gotthardt 6-5. Springer will be hoping this victory marks a turning point for his form this year.
- **Mensur Suljovic** continued to show improved form, dominating William O’Connor with a 6-2 win, as the Austrian battles to retain his tour card.
Closing out the night, **Wessel Nijman** secured a tight victory against Cristo Reyes, who is arguably the best-performing new tour card holder. Nijman showcased his scoring power, hitting four maximums on his way to closing out the evening.
Reflections on Day 1
Overall, Day 1 of the European Darts Trophy was a mixed bag. While the climate seemed to pose challenges for many, leading to several underwhelming performances, the moments of brilliance – especially from **Kevin Doets** and **Dave Chisnall** – provided ample excitement. Players will undoubtedly be looking to iron out the creases and deliver even stronger performances as the tournament progresses.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
